Energy Conservation Ledger 2D: Bouncing Ball & Heat

What is Energy Conservation?

Energy conservation is the principle that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time. It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

This principle is encapsulated by the equation ΔE = Q + W, where ΔE represents the change in internal energy, Q is heat added to the system, and W is work done on or by the system.

The Bouncing Ball Simulation

In this simulation, a ball bounces between a floor with adjustable friction and an initial drop height. The restitution coefficient determines how much of the kinetic energy is conserved during each bounce.

As the ball falls, its gravitational potential energy (GPE) converts to kinetic energy (KE), and upon impact, some KE is converted into heat due to friction.

Energy Transformations in Bouncing

During the fall, the ball’s GPE decreases as it gains KE. Upon hitting the floor, the KE is partially dissipated as heat (Q) and sound, with the remainder converting back into GPE for the next bounce.

The sum of all energy forms—GPE, KE, and heat—remains constant over time, illustrating the conservation principle.

Real-World Applications

Understanding these transformations is crucial in fields like engineering, where it helps design more efficient systems.

In sports science, it aids in analyzing performance by quantifying energy losses during physical activities.

Frequently asked questions

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Energy Conservation Ledger 2D: Bouncing Ball & Heat and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.